Skip to main content

The Three Christmases: Past, Present, Future


Charles Dickens in his novel A Christmas Carol introduces a Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge as the protagonist. He is an old, mean-spirited and miserly man who has nothing but disdain for Christmas. However, this mean-spirited curmudgeon is transformed as he is visited by three spirits, the spirit of Christmas Past, the spirit of Christmas Present and the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. 

The first spirit time travels Mr. Scrooge back to his own younger days which had made him to be who he is presently. The second spirit shows him Christmas as it will be celebrated in the present time and the sights fills his heart with a warmth and a longing for more. The third spirit comes and shows him what will happen in future as he witnesses his own funeral. Upon awaking Mr. Scrooge is delighted to be informed that it is Christmas day. As the story comes to an end, we see a new person, joy filled, full of zest and partaking to the fullest in the spirit of the Christmas season. What did Mr. Scrooge find through his visitor guides? In one word, redemption. 

As we enter this festive season in our own time, we too can think of three Christmases, the one that is past, the one that is present, and the one that is to come.

Christmas Past. More than two thousand years ago, Jesus, the Son of God was born in Bethlehem amid what might have been a busy season of travelers arriving for a census. Born and placed in a manger, it went unnoticed by the masses except for a few shepherds who were given the special message. A year or so later, wise men came to give him their tributes and with that visit the family had to flee to Egypt as the threat of murder became a reality.

Christmas Present. Today we continue the celebration of Christmas in remembrance of the past.The first Christmas night story is narrated all over again and carols sang. Bright lights and red stars deck the houses, Christmas trees are put up in colours deep red, rich green, golden yellow, and shimmering silver. Yes, we will revisit the manger story and adore the baby Jesus; the baby who is Immanuel-God with us. There is more to the manger story, the story of the wooden cross on Calvary. Ours is not the privilege to be active participants in the first Christmas story but ours is the privilege to be partakers in this story handed down faithfully through the generations of those who would accept Him as their King and Saviour.

Christmas Yet to Come. There is still a Christmas yet to come but not exactly in the way it happened before. This is the Christmas where the once helpless babe will return as the Conquering King. This is the Christmas when His Kingdom will be established and a new heaven and a new earth will be ushered in, when all things will become new. The humble stable of the first Christmas will be replaced by the gloriously splendid new city of Jerusalem, the city of God.

So what is the theme that holds these three Christmases together? REDEMPTION. The Christmas story points to the story of God's plan and purpose for the redemption of humanity. Like Mr. Scrooge who finds redemption in his Christmas visions, in these three Christmases we  too must find the story of our redemption, God redeeming us.

May we look back in gratitude at Christmas Past and give all glory and honour to God!
May we participate in Christmas Present  with the story of the birth of Jesus Christ bringing forth a fresh Christmas in our hearts and our homes! 
And May we look forward to the Christmas Yet to Come with hope and joy!


"The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace!"
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hope

What does hope look like? In a conference, we were each given play clay and asked to shape an object that symbolized hope for us as individuals. Everyone set to work with much excitement. Most of us a little unsure about the task, looking around at what the early starters were making, some small discussions and giggling as we each set to decide on an object to shape. Eventually, we all finished and with much delight looked at what each of us crafted.  Hope may appear different from person to person but having hope is a shared phenomenon. Losing hope is also a sad reality, but that is for another time. Our symbols of hope may also change as we grow and gain richer and deeper experience in life. One of the poems that I now resonate with a little more is William Butler Yeats' A Prayer For My Daughter . I look at this as a prayer of hope that Yeats expresses for his daughter as a storm, symbolising a chaotic world she would grow up in, rages on. Like Yeats, I have the joy of being a fa...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Boy on the Bus

He was just a boy on the bus, calling out to people to get on board. His eyes counted the empty seats and his voice called out for people to fill them up. I watched as he checked to see all the seats were taken and then he called out to the driver to start the bus. The trip to the town began and he came around collecting the fares - little hands gripping the bills and the coins inspecting the bills carefully and returning changes. He did it with ease, after all he was used to it. I couldn't but help think about this little boy as I watched him from my seat. Perhaps another of his age would have been delighted to go on such a ride. Another would have loved the sights of the "world" passing by but this boy kept his eyes on his little hands with the fares and the change. What might have been a delight to another was to him a routine. He will step down not because he has reached his destination but a stop to let people down and take in others. The youngest on board, he w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Watching and Waiting

So while the rest of the state went to polls today, I went to the hospital with my wife for the delivery of our first child and there she came, a sweet little baby girl weighing 3.2 kgs. A delight to us and the family. So here is the story in brief that with much joy I write. Nine months ago my wife showed me the positive pregnancy kit and I said, "check again tomorrow." Well, she did and it was confirmed. So we went to the doctor armed with the kit. The doctor double confirmed it and it signaled the beginning of a new chapter in life. And so began the mental preparation, even as we noticed the baby grow slowly but surely. As I look back I am filled with nothing but gratitude to God for his protective hand on the mother and the child.  What appeared like a long wait is now done. It has been a wonderful journey of anticipation. And what more can I ask for even as we went through occasional pains but mostly just enjoying the process. There is this wonderful hymn Ble...
1 comment
Read more